Blake Allen, Student and Outreach Minister, LHBC
Genesis 1:26-28
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
Manhood: There are many definitions or thoughts on this discussion. Our world is divided on the topic. When you hear the word manhood, what comes to your own mind? In our Western context, most definitions include but are not limited to: a working knowledge of how to build things, leadership, toughness, work ethic, etc. But how often do we consider what the Bible has to say about manhood? It is impossible to describe manhood apart from the word of God. After all, the Bible details the creation of the first man.
Man comes into existence at the creation of the first Adam. The first description of man we see is that man is created in the image of God. This does not mean that we look like God. Rather, we are created in the likeness of God. God is all-knowing; we have the ability to possess knowledge, reason, and make decisions. God is the creator of all things; we have the ability to procreate and construct things. God provides all blessings we have received. We have the ability to bless others. God worked by creating all of creation; we have the ability and responsibility to work. God is holy; man was created good. God has sovereign rule over all of creation; man was given the responsibility to have dominion and take care of God’s creation.
Therefore, we are made in the likeness of God. Notice the difference though! We have the ability to resemble God, but we are not God. So, while man is able to accomplish many things, our strength and abilities are limited. We ultimately must depend upon the source of our existence–God himself. Manhood is first and foremost a reflection of the qualities and characteristics of God.
The next description of man we have from the creation account is one who works. We typically think of work as punishment, a burden, or something we have to do but not necessarily something we want to do. But man was instructed to work before The Fall of man. Sin is the reason we now work by the sweat of our brow, through toil and pain, and difficulty (Genesis 3). But work was a command before The Fall. We work because God worked in creation. Jesus worked as a carpenter, through pain and suffering, and accomplished our salvation through his completed work on the cross. The Holy Spirit works by sanctifying believers and making us holy, guiding us in the word of God, and interceding on our behalf. Work finds its basis in the Trinitarian nature and character of God.
The final description of manhood we see from this creation account is one who is a steward. Men, along with women, are called to steward God’s creation. He has given us the ability to rule over the earth, cultivate the land, and take care of his creation. We are stewards of what he gives us. Manhood is essentially tied to stewardship. How well are you taking care of all that God has entrusted to you?
Manhood: The state of being all that God intended you to be from the beginning of time. Made in His image, one who works, and a steward. Men: Are you being all that God intended you to be?
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, give our men strength to be what you called us to be, do what you called us to do, and live how you called us to live. Amen.
MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
Ephesians 2:8-9:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.